Quote:
Originally Posted by Selenay
I'm torn about how I feel. On one hand, it's important to have pro LGBT celebrity allies; as much as we may not agree with the allies we acquire, they are helping to shape a cultural narrative and start a dialogue that, in many ways, we CAN'T start.
On the other hand, I find it problematic that a straight white cis-man has created an anthem for the queer community; I felt the same way when Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl," was tearing up the charts.
I agree with calling out systemic discrimination, and I don't think that Macklemore calling out the rap/hiphop community is more troubling than if Miranda Lambert did it.
That being said, it is not my anthem—I prefer other anthems.
For those who are intrigued, I find that Angel Haze did a pretty great cover of it, written from a queerer perspective, which you can hear here. I don't find her version triggering, but your mileage may vary and whatnot.
We're all part of the queer community—I mean unless you don't identify as part of the queer community which is also a-okay—if "Same Love" your anthem, rock on. If "Born This Way" is your anthem, awesomesauce. If "I'm The Only One" is your anthem, keep doing your thing. Whatever makes you raise your fist is an awesome anthem, and I don't get to say it's not: that's what makes it yours.
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This. This. This.
It is SO true that Macklemore is helping to create a dialog that we can't. Mary Lambert has been singing for a long time. But where? Was she in the top 100? Was she even getting any airplay on ANY station around the US? That's the thing with Queer singers, they have to be the Singer first and the Queer second. And by that, I am exampling Melissa Etheridge.
She was a singer for a while before she came out. I know there must be Gay singers who were known to be Gay before they became famous but I'm having a hard time thinking of one.
Consequently, I just saw a documentary on LOGO about a pair of twin brothers who were both Mormon and Gay and who were trying to get their singing career going as openly Gay/Bisexual (I can't remember if one of them was Bi or both were Gay) and the trials of that. It was called "Nemesis Rising" if anyone is interested!